Man is so muddled, so dependent on the things immediately before his eyes, that every day even the most submissive read more

Man is so muddled, so dependent on the things immediately before his eyes, that every day even the most submissive believer can be seen to risk the torments of the afterlife for the smallest pleasure.

What difference is there, do you think, between those in Plato's cave who can only marvel at the shadows and read more

What difference is there, do you think, between those in Plato's cave who can only marvel at the shadows and images of various objects, provided they are content and don't know what they miss, and the philosopher who has emerged from the cave and sees the real things?

Etiquette means behaving yourself a little better than is absolutely essential.

Etiquette means behaving yourself a little better than is absolutely essential.

Virtue is not the absense of vices or the avoidance of moral dangers; virtue is a vivid and separate ting, read more

Virtue is not the absense of vices or the avoidance of moral dangers; virtue is a vivid and separate ting, like pain or a particular smell. - Tremendous Trifles.

Assumptions allow the best in life to pass you by.

Assumptions allow the best in life to pass you by.

The fastest way to succeed is to look as if you're playing by somebody else's rules, while quietly playing by read more

The fastest way to succeed is to look as if you're playing by somebody else's rules, while quietly playing by your own.

There is nothing more wonderful than freedom of speech.

There is nothing more wonderful than freedom of speech.

A pleasant illusion is better than a harsh reality.

A pleasant illusion is better than a harsh reality.

There is no one giant step that does it. It's a lot of little steps.

There is no one giant step that does it. It's a lot of little steps.